Machine for use in shoemaking



Jan. 5 1943. G. A. SWEET 2,307,169

MACHINE FOR uss' IN SHOEMAKING Filed'Feb. 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 5, 1943 I 2,307,169 MACHINE FOR use IN sncmvmnme George A. Sweet, Marblehead, Mass, assignor. to

United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 12, 1941, Serial No. 378,609

14 Claims.

any specific form or embodiment herein disclosed.

An important consideration in the removal or insertion of lasts is the ever present danger of damage to the shoe upper by the shoe-engaging elements ofthe particular machine upon which the operation is performed. The possibility of such damage is greatest in the vicinity of the back seam portion of the upper Where considerable force is usually applied for prying the rear part of the shoe from the rear part of the last when delasting, or for forcing the rear part of the last into the rear part of the shoe when relasting. tions account must be taken of the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining a satisfactory hold or grip on the rear part of the last or on the rear part of the shoe, and also of the danger of distorting the rear part of the shoe by reason of the relative movement between the rear part of the shoe and the rear part of the last.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel machine which may serve equally well for delasting or relasting shoes and by the use of which any damage to the shoe upper is practically impossible and the force required for the operation is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a form or last adapted for use in connecmovable to effect a corresponding relative move,

ment between one of the sections and a shoe on the other. The direction of such relative movement is reversible to enable the machine to be used for both delasting and last inserting. Thus,

for example, assuming a shoe to be mounted on y the forward section of the last, the rear section of the last is moved relatively out of the shoe in delasting and into the shoe in relasting or last inserting. As shown herein, one of the last supports is conveniently made stationary while the Moreover, in performing these operaother is pivotally mounted in the machine frame to move in a circular path. The last is divided into the above-mentioned two sections along an arcuate surface and the arrangement is such that when the last is properly supported in the machine, the axis of the arcuate surface of division between the two last sections coincides with the axis of pivotal movement of the movable last support. One of the principal advantages of a machine and a last constructed and arranged as above described is that, since the particular section of the last to which a movement is imparted is constrained to move relatively to the shoe in an arcuate path coaxial with the arcuate surface of division between the two last sections, all points along the back seam portion of the last are caused, in delasting, to move simultaneously away from the upper or, conversely, all points along the back seam portion of the upper are caused to move simultaneously away from the last, thus progressively shortening the last, so to speak. When using the machine for relasting, all points along the back seam portion of the shoe upper or along the corresponding portion of the last, respectively, are caused to approach and contact. substantially simultaneously the correspending portion of the upper or the last, respectively. Thus the shoe upper is not subjected to undue stresses and the power required for moving one or the other of the two last sections is relatively small.

With the above and other features in view, the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

Inthe drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a combined delasting and relasting machine representing one form of the invention, with certain unessential machine parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is aplan view of the in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a combined delasting and relasting machine representing another form of the invention, with certain unessential machine parts broken away Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front view of part of the last cone; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a latch for connecting the two last sections.

The last removing or last inserting machine, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, has a frame comprising a column Ill and a head ll machine illustrated secured to the column Ill by bolts I2. The head at one end to the treadle and at the other to the I! comprises two vertical parallel plates, each having a substantially fork-shaped upper extremity comprising a forward arm I 3 and a rearward arm [4. The two forward arms l3 of the vertical plates of the head H are connected by a horizontal crossbar l5 integral with both arms. Secured to the top face of the crossbar [5 substantially midway between the two parallel plates of the head II is a last support I! comprising a block having a padded upper surface on which a last composed of two sections I8, 25 and carrying a shoe is placed for the purpose of delasting the shoe. The two last sections l8 and .are separated by an arcuate surface of division 01, which defines the joint faces of the sections and intersects the top face 2! of the last (see Fig. 1). Accordingly, the top face 2| which is the normal supporting face of the last during the processing of the shoe is divided between both last sections I8 and 2B, and both sections I8 and 20 may be secured on separate supports. Moreover, the forward section [8 of the last does not depend on the rear or heel section 20 for its support as heretofore in two-section last structures of various types.

The illustrated two-section last is entirely devoid of hardware, such as pivot pins and links usually interconnecting the sections of two-section lasts. The two last sections l8 and 20 are solid pieces of any suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastics. In view of the fact that the two last sections are solid and do not require connecting links and pivot pins, it is unnecessary to provide recesses therein which naturally tend to weaken the last. Moreover, the external surface of the entire last, as well as the joint surfaces, is continous when the two last sections are properly assembled and the continuity is not interrupted as in prior last structures of this or' similar types by recesses, shoulders, or the like.

Secured in the upper extremities of the arms M of the head ID are the opposite ends of a horizontal shaft 22 on which is pivotally mounted a framelike support 24 for the rear section 20 of the last. The support 24 has a web 26 connecting its lateral arms for part of the length of these arms and supporting a plate 28 which is adjustably secured to the web by a screw 30.

The web is provided with a central longitudinally extending slot 32 through which the stern of the screw 30 extends, the screw being threaded into the plate 28. Thus the plate 28 may be adjusted along the slot 32 relatively to the support 24 and may be held in adjusted position by the screw 30. The purpose of that adjustment will be explained later. At its forward extremity the plate 28 is provided with two lateral lugs 34, each lug bearing a pivot screw 36, both screws being in alinement and having their common axis parallel to the shaft 22. Pivotally mounted on the screws 36 are two upwardly extending arms 37 secured to an elongated block 38 which, accordingly, is tiltable about the common axis of the screws 35. upper surface, substantially midway between its ends, a last pin 4! which engages the customary thimble hole in the rear section of the last and which is threaded into the block 38 and secured in place by a nut 42. The block 38 is provided at its mid-portion with a forwardly extending arm 44 to which is pivotally secured a substantially vertical rod 46, the lower extremity of which is pivotally connected to a treadle 48 fulcrumed at 50 on the machine frame. A spring 52, connected The tilting block 38 carries on its machine frame, tends to elevate the treadle 48 and treadle rod 46 so as to tilt the block 38 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l. The framelike support 24 is provided with a rearwardly extending tail portion 54 which is connected by a spring 56 to the machine frame, the spring 56 tending to rotate the support 24 in a clockwise direction, this movement of the support 24 being limited by the engagement of two abutments 58 provided at the forward end of the support 24 with the under side of the fixed crossbar l 5.

The above-mentioned provision for adjustment of the plate 28 along the slot 32 enables the last pin 43 to be moved lengthwise of the last to accommodate variations in the distance between the thimble hole and the edge of the top face 2| of the rear section 20 of the last. As will be appre ciated,.the entire last must be so adjusted and positioned in the machine that the rear section 20 of the last may be moved relatively to the forward section l8 without interfering with the fixed crossbar [5 or the last support ll. When the last is thus properly positioned in the machine the arcuate surface of division d (Fig. 1) between its two sections I8 and 20 is coaxial with the pivotal axis (shaft 22) of the support 24. Consequently, in the removal of the rear section 20 of the last from a shoe or in the inserting of the rear section into a shoe, the rear section is moved in an arcuate path, or more specifically in a circular path above the axis of the shaft 22.

In delasting a shoe on the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a last divided into two sections along an arcuate surface, as described, and having a shoe mounted thereon is presented to the machine, after the last pin 40 has been properly adjusted, as described, with the last pin engaging a thimble hole provided, as usual, in the top face of the rear section of the last, and with part of the front portion of the top face of the last resting on the fixed support 1'! provided on the crossbar 15, it being understood that the movable support 24 is held in its uppermost position, as indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines, by the spring 56, and that the treadle is held in its uppermost position by the spring 52, so that the tilting block 38 and last pin 40 are held in their normal last receiving positions. Upon depression of the treadle 48, the support 24 is initially maintained in its uppermost position by the relatively strong spring 56, so that the initial result of the treadle depression is merely a rocking or tilting of the block 38 and the last pin 40 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. This causes a binding or cramping of the last pin 40 in the thimble hole of the last, so that the rear section 20 of the last becomes effectively locked to the support 24.. On continued downward movement of the treadle 48 the force of the spring 56 is eventually overcome and the support 24, including the block 38 and the last pin 48, is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) about the axis of the shaft 22, carrying the rear section 2i) of the last looked upon the pin 40 with it, and thus removing the rear section 20 from the shoe. Downward movement of the shoe, during this operation, is resisted by the support ll. which prevents downward movement of the forepart of the last. As will be appreciated upon inspection of Fig. 1, because of the fact that the movement of the rear section 20 out of the shoe is about the axis of the shaft 22 and is a downward movement, all points along and in the vicinity of the vertical back seam portion of the last move simultaneously and uniformly away from the corresponding portion of the shoe upper, so that the rear section 20 of the last is removed from the shoe without any substantial stressing of the shoe upper and without causing any damage thereto. After the removal of the rear section 20 from the shoe, removal of the forward section l-8 therefrom is quite simple and does not offer any difficulty whatever.

Upon release of the treadle 48 the support 24 is again moved up in a clockwise direction by the spring 56 until it reaches its uppermost position as determined by the abutments or lugs 58. Moreover, the treadle 4B and treadle rod 46 are elevated by the spring 52 with the result that the block 38 is tilted back into its normal position in which the last pin 40 no longer binds in the thimble hole of the last section 20, so that the rear section 20 may then be easily lifted off the last pin 40.

When using the machine for the purpose of relasting a shoe, the forward section l8 of the last is first manually inserted into the shoe and the forward section l8 of the last with the shoe there on is then held upon the last support 11. The

support 24 is meanwhile being held, by a complete depression of the treadle 48, in its lower position as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 and carries the rear section 20 of the last. By slowly permitting the treadle to move upwardly under the action of the spring 52, thereby permitting the support 24 to rotate clockwise under the action of its spring 56, the rear section 26 is inserted into the heel end portion of the shoe upper in an arcuate path without any substantial stressing of the shoe upper and without causing any damage thereto. If the machine is to be used for relasting shoes, it is within the scope of the invention to provide it with a holddown for supporting the forward section of the last against upward movement and with positive means; for example a suitable lever directly under the control of the operator, for causing upward movement of the support 24 to insert the rear section of the last into the shoe.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The machine illustrated in these figures has a frame comprising a head 66 secured by bolts 6| to a standard or column. parallel vertical plates connected at their upper ends by a top plate 62 integral with both vertical plates. The top plate 62 is provided midway between its lateral edges with a longitudinally extending slot 64 along which is adjustable a depending last pin 66 provided at its upper end with a collar and carried by a thumb screw 16 the shank of which extends through the slot 64 and is threaded into the upper end of the last pin. The last pin 66 is engageable with a thimble hole in the rear section 20 of a last similar to or identical with the abovedescribed last. with the corresponding forward section i8 being properly assembled in relation to the rear section 20 and with the entire last thus assembled carrying a shoe. In order to make it possible that the entire last with the shoe thereon will be supported and maintained on the downwardly extending last pin 66 engaging the thimble hole of the last, the last,

after the last pin has entered the thimble hole, is depressed at its forward end to cause the last pin 66 to bind in the thimble hole. For reasons similar to those outlined in connection with the above-described machine illustrated in Figs. 1

The head 66 comprises two 5 and 2, the last pin 66 is so adjusted along the slot 64 that the center of curvature of the armate surface dividing the last into two sections I8 and 20 coincides with the axis of rotation of the delasting or relasting member to be described, and that during the relative movements between the forward section I8 and the shoe on one hand, and the rear section 26 on the other, no interference with machine parts is possible.

For the purpose of causing a relative movement between the two last sections l8 and 26 there is provided a curved arm 14 mounted for pivotal movement on a horizontal shaft 12 fixed in the machine frame. The arm 14 has a rearwardly extending portion 16 which is connected by means of a tubular push rod 13 to a twoarmed treadle 80 iulcrumed at 82 in the machine frame. A spring 84 connecting the rearward extension 16 of the arm 14 with a screw eye threaded into the machine frame tends to swing the arm 14 in a clockwise direction into its normal inoperative position, illustrated by dotted lines in. Fig. 3, this movement of the arm being limited by the engagement of the rearward extension 16 of the arm 14 with a fixed abutment 86. The forward portion of the arm 16 extends downwardly and carries at its end a padded block 81 adapted to engage part of the top face of the forward section of the last.

In delasting a shoe by means of the machine illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 a last with a shoe mounted thereon and comprising two sections l8 and 20, as described, is presented to the machine by inserting the last pin 66, properly adjusted in a machine frame, into the thimble hole of the last, whereupon the last is locked to the pin by a tilting movement of its front part by which the last pin binds in the thimble hole. In this adjusted position of the last the forward end of the arm 14 is resting on the parts of the top face and the cone of the front section iii of the last. Upondepression of the treadle 8!? the push rod 18 is moved upward and the arm 14 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, with the result that the forward section l3 and the shoe carried thereon are moved downwardly relatively to the rear section 29 of the last. The downward movement of the forward section of the last maintains the thimble hole of the rear section cramped upon the last pin without danger of slipping off. Of course, after the entire removal of the forward section 18 and shoe from the rear section 26 the latter will drop off the last pin 66.

In using the machine illustrated in Figs. 3

and 4 for the purpose of relasting, the shoe to be relasted is first manually provided with a forward section l8 of a suitable last and the corresponding rear section 26 is mounted on the last pin 66 and held there by the engagement of the upper portion of the joint face of the forward section l8 against the lower portion of the joint face of the rear section 26 so that the last pin 66 becomes cramped in the thimble hole of the rear section 20 of the last, this position being quite similar to that of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3. It is understood, of course, that the arm 14 is held in its lower position, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3, by the depression of the treadle. By now gradually releas ing the treadle, the arm 14 is moved upwardly in a clockwise direction by the spring 84 and the forward section 18 is caused manually to follow the movement of the arm 14. It is guided benefits obtain in connection with the delasting or relasting machine illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 as with the previously described delasting or relasting machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

To prevent separation of the two assembled last sections l8 and 20 in directions heightwise or.

widthwise of the last during the processing of a shoe on the last, the top face 2| of the last is preferably provided with a dove-tail shaped guidegroove 99 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) extending lengthwise of the last from the cone portion to the rear end and adapted to receive a latch plate 92 (Fig. 6). The plate 92 has a hole 94 to permit passage of the last pin 40 or 66 into the thimble hole of the last and is furthermore provided with a recess or depression 66 which in the latching position of the,

plate 94 receives a spring-pressed locking ball 98 Fig. l) seated with its backing spring in a small thimble I00 provided in the forward section [8 of the last at the bottom of the groove 90. As the plate 94 is moved into and along the guide-groove 80 the ball 98 rides along the top face of the plate until the recess 96 is in register with the ball, whereupon the latter snaps into the recess, thereby locking the plate 92 in latching position in which both last sections are held together and their relative movement is prevented. Before the last is presented to either of the tWo illustrated machines the last sections are, of course, unlocked by the removal of the latch plate 92 with a suitable tool such as a screw driver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for operating upon a last divided along an arcuate surface into two sections, com- L prising a support for one section of the last, means engageable with the other section of the last and movable in an arcuate path co-axial with the arcuate dividing surface of said last supported in the machine to move said other section relatively to the support thereby effecting relative movement between one of said sections and a shoe on the other section.

2. A machine for operating upon a last divided along an arcuate surface into two sections, comprising a support for one section of the last, means engageable with the other section of the last for moving said other section relatively to the support in an arcuate path coaxial with said arcuate dividing surface, thereby effecting relative movement between one of said sections and a shoe on the other section, and yieldable means for returning said moving means to initial position after the completion of said movement.

3. A machine for operating upon a last divided along an arcuate surface into two sections, comprising a stationary support for one section of the last, a member mounted for movement in an arcuate path coaxial with said arcuate dividing surface, said member being engageable with the other section of the last to move said other sec tion, a treadle, a connection from said treadle for moving said member and thereby the section engaged by said member to effect relative movement between one section of the last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the lastbeing divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a stationary support for said forward section, a movable support for said rear section, and means for imparting to said movable support an operative movement in an arcuate path coaxial with said arcuate surface to move said rear section relatively to said forward section and the shoe thereon.

5. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a stationary support for said forward section, a movable support for said rear section, a last pin engaging a thimble hole in said rear section, said last pin being mounted on said movable support for tilting movement relatively thereto, and means for both tilting said last pin to cause it to cramp in said thimble hole and imparting an operative movement to said movable support to move said rear section relatively to said forward section and the shoe thereon.

6. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a two-section last and a shoe on the forward section of said last, having, in combination, a stationary support for said forward section, a movable support for said rear section, a last pin engaging a thimble hole in said rear section and mounted on said movable support for adjustment lengthwise of said movable support, and means for imparting a movement to said movable support and last pin to move said rear section relatively to said forward section and shoe.

7. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a stationary support for said forward section, a movable member, a last pin engaging a thimble hole in said rear section and mounted on said movable member for tilting movement relatively thereto and for adjustment lengthwise of said movable member, and means for tilting said last pin to cramp in said thimble hole and thereafter imparting to said movable member and said last pin an arcuate movement coaxial with said arcuate surface to move said rear section relatively to said forward section and shoe.

8. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcurate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a frame, means secured on said frame for supporting said forward section and said shoe by engagement with the forward section, a member mounted for pivotal movement in said frame and separately supporting the rear section of said last, means for imparting an operative movement to said member to move said rear section relatively to said forward section and shoe, and a spring engaging said member for returning the latter into its initial position after said operative movement.

9. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a frame, means secured on said frame for supporting said forward section and said shoe by engagement with the forward section, a separate supporting member for the rear section of the last, said member being pivotally mounted in said frame for movement about the axis of the arcuate dividing surface of said last, a last pin engaging a thimble hole in the rear section of said last and mounted on said member for tilting movement relatively thereto and for adjustment lengthwise of said member, a treadle, and connections between said treadle and said last pin for tilting the last pin to bind in said thimble hole and thereafter imparting an operative movement to said member and last pin to move said rear section relatively to said forward section and shoe.

10. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, means for supporting the rear section of said last, means movable in an arcuate path coaxial with said arcuate surface for engaging the forward section of said last, and means for actuating said movable means so as to move said forward section with the shoe thereon relatively to said rear section.

11. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a last pin engaging a thimble hole in the rear section of said last, a stationary support in which said last pin is mounted for adjustment lengthwise thereof, means movable in an arcuate path coaxial with said arcuate surface for engaging the forward section of said last, and means for imparting an operative movement to said movable means to move said forward section with the shoe thereon relatively to said rear section.

12. A machine for effecting relative movement between the rear section of a last and a shoe mounted on the forward section of the last, the last being divided along an arcuate surface into said two sections, the machine having, in combination, a frame, a last pin adjustably mounted on said frame and engaging a thimble hole in the rear section of said last, an arm pivotally mounted in said frame to move about the axis of the arcuate surface of said last and engaging the forward section of the last, treadle operated means for imparting an operative movement to said arm, and spring means connected to said arm for returning the latter into initial position after the completion of said operative movement.

13. A machine for inserting the rear section of a two-section last into a shoe mounted on the forward section of said last, having, in combination, means for supporting the forward section of said last with the shoe thereon, and means engaging the rear section of said last and movable in an arcuate path relatively to said supporting means for inserting said rear section into said shoe.

14. A machine for inserting the rear section of a last divided along an arcuate surface into two sections, into a shoe mounted on the for- Ward section of said last, having a stationary support for the forward section of said last with the shoe thereon, and a support for the rear section of said last movable relatively to the said forward section support about the axis of the arcute surface of the last for inserting said rear section into the shoe, said axis being located outside of and rearwardly of said last.

GEORGE A. SWEET.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,507,169. January 5,

' GEORGE A. SWEET.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 75, for "vertical" read -critical; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed his 2nd day of March, A. D. 19%.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents; 

